On the next circuit, Jim and Oz stopped to watch Xander nap. Jim
continued on after a few minutes, letting Oz check on his charge.
Oz knelt beside Xander, touching his shoulder gently. He looked around
before running his fingers through the dark hair. "Xander?" he called
quietly. When he didn't get an answer, he looked around. "Jim?"
he called. The older sentinel appeared a few minutes later.
"I can't wake him."

"Thanks." He twitched the reins and the chestnut horse shifted.
"You're one of Ellison's little friends, aren'tchya?"

Oz nodded. "We were jogging with him, Xander stopped and took
a nap."

The cop lifted his radio and talked into it. "Can I get one of
the maintenance carts on the jogging trail?" He put the radio away.
"I doubt you want to drag him for half a mile."

"Very true. Thanks." He dragged Xander over to the oncoming
cart, setting him onto the back shelf. "We're over in the blue lot,
I think."

"Jim moved to the Elm Street one," Xander murmured.

"Okay," the cop said. "They were jogging with Ellison," he explained
to the park worker.

"Ah. The meany. How is the grumpy one?" the maintenance
worker asked as he started his cart down the path.

"On an endorphin high; we did six miles," Oz said, keeping a tight grip
on Xander's pliant body. "Thanks," he said as they slowed down.
"He's been up all hours to do stuff for school." He tugged Xander
off the cart, getting an armful of cuddly, sleepy best friend. "Xander,
come on." He dragged the younger man over to where the van was pulling
in, pushing Xander into the back and closing the door so he could hop into
the passenger's seat. "Thanks, Jim."

"Sorry," Xander sighed, "no ice cream left."

Jim rolled his eyes. "Not a problem." He pulled out onto
the street. "I thought you had cured his sleeping problems."

"I did, until these two shows came up." Xander groaned in the
back. "It's okay, Xander, we'll work it out." He winced as
he heard the thump that signaled the sleeping body rolling into the door.

***

Oz pulled Xander into the loft, leading him to his bed like he was a
sleepy child. He waved at Willow and Buffy as they walked past where the
girls were sitting on the couch, continuing into Xander's space to put
him into bed. After struggling and forcing the younger man out of
his clothes, ending up shirtless himself as Xander tried to help, he walked
out and closed the curtains behind him. "Hey." He made a stop
through the kitchen for water, but ended up beside the two women after
a few minutes. "What's up?"

"Giles saw Spike in the library," Willow said quietly. "We wanted
to warn you two."

"It's a grounding thing," Oz explained. "Guides help sentinels
center so they can work and live. Xander had overloads while doing
laundry." Willow snickered. "Not funny. That was while
we were having problems. I couldn't bring him out for a few hours
and we could have gotten caught." He put his empty bottle on the
side-table. "When the trust's there, the bond is great; if it's not,
it's a tragic accident waiting to happen"

Willow nodded slowly. "I can see that, especially with someone
who has all five."

"I don't know how he does it," Buffy said with a shudder. "Two
is hard enough for me."

"They weren't supposed to change, they did the second shot to lock them
in."

"Xander had the genetic markers before he got the first shot.
He might have done it naturally. The drugs just activated them."

"And they gave him tons, he was locked in after the second dose according
to the notes we have." Willow nudged Buffy when she didn't add anything.
"What do you know?"

"They weren't sure they were going to stay, but they knew he was a sentinel,
afterwards. He was the only one that got more than three senses."
She looked over at Oz. "No one was sure if he could lock them away
so they made sure he couldn't by giving him extra shots." Oz's eyes
turned to ice and his glare started caused her to panic. "They wanted
him, Oz, real bad. They couldn't get Jim and they wanted to study
this *real* bad. That's why they gave him the stuff that should have
made him come crawling back. They figured you'd come running eventually."

Oz nodded, forcing himself to look like he was relaxed. "We figured
something like that. They fought too hard to not want to keep him."
He glanced at his watch.

Willow saw and tugged on Buffy's arm. "Come on, let's see if a
long hug helps your sleepwalking." She towed Buffy toward the elevator.
"Be careful and call if you need us," she called as she closed the elevator's
gate.

Oz waited until they were alone to take a deep breath and head for his
guideling. He lay down on the bed next to Xander, pulling him closer
to hold tightly. "They can't have you," he whispered, closing his
eyes to nap too.

***

John grunted as he put aside the last picture and looked at his advisee.
"Well, at least you included one I liked." Xander gave him an embarrassed
look. "Okay." He leaned back and rubbed his eyes. "Let's
meet at your place tomorrow night and look through everything."

Xander nodded. "Okay. I had to take out some of my more
explicit work and these were the only ones left."

John shook his head as he handed over a binder. "That's what I'm
putting up."

Xander flipped through the photos, swallowing after getting caught staring
at a few. He cleared his throat as he handed it back. "If I
had consent, I have some stuff to show, but my stuff isn't with consent."
John gave him a frown. "They were done after we broke up, pure fantasy
pieces."

John smiled. "Xander, there's a great tradition in art that tells
us to use models then change their appearances." Xander looked confused
so he explained it a little. "Pose your roommate then make sure it
doesn't look like him." Xander still looked confused. "Make
him look Hispanic or African-American or something."

Xander grinned. "Okay." He shrugged. "I can try one."

"Good. I'll see you tomorrow?" He handed over the pictures
of the younger artist's paintings. "Try one and let's see what happens."

"I'll try," Xander agreed as he stood up and hurried out of the office.

John groaned, "I need to get him redirected," as he leaned back in his
chair.

***

Xander sat down across from Oz at their usual table in the Student Union,
gifting his guide with a frown. "Can you model for me tonight?
I just need forms; John suggested that I make the painting look like someone
else."

Oz put down his burger. "So you're going to do pictures then paint?"
Xander shrugged, eating the fry he had stolen. "Leave me some."

"Will, just needed a nibble." Xander glanced around. "Can
you?"

"Yeah, me and Dev both if you want." Oz picked back up his burger.
"Spandex?" he asked right before taking a bite.

"Maybe, not sure." Xander tapped his fingers on the table.
"John's much more explicit than I am."

"I'd rather do suggestive," Xander told him, reaching over to pat the
older man's arm. "More like my figure drawings."

Oz nodded, taking another bite. "Okay," he said after he had swallowed.
"I trust you not to compromise me."

"I'll do my best." Xander stole another fry and Oz's pickle, then
got up and jogged out of the building.

Oz shook his head at his friend's lunch tactics and went back to eating.

***

Devon walked into the loft, smiling at Xander's muted growl. He
put down the bag of film he had been sent out for and grabbed the camera.
"Let me help you pose," he suggested.

"Isn't that not his work then?" Oz asked.

"I'm just clicking the shutter, Xander's doing all the work."
He checked the exposure counter and shook his head as Xander came out of
his room dressed like Oz, in flesh-colored spandex. "Just let it
flow. Look at each other." He lifted the camera, watching as
the bond between the two caught them again.

Oz stared at Xander, getting lost in his eyes almost immediately.
He walked over to where Xander stood, ignoring the noise of the camera,
and grabbed him for a hard kiss. Xander made a small noise as Oz wrapped
his fingers in the younger man's hair, tugging even as he pulled them closer
together.

Devon smiled, moving so the camera caught the possessive grasp, silently
blessing his ability to change film quickly.

Xander broke the kiss to breathe, panting in shock. "Oz?
Huh?"

"Shh," Oz said, backing Xander up to a wall and kissing him again, and
again, until there was no more doubt about what was happening.

Xander went limp and his surrender was noted with a tightening of the
hands on his body. He tried to move but Oz held him perfectly still
to show him who was in control.

Xander looked into the gray eyes, falling to his knees as understanding
hit, rubbing his face against Oz's stomach. "Yours," he whispered.
"Just don't hurt me."

"No pain," Oz promised as he pulled him up and made his friend look
at him. "Never pain."

Xander nodded, hugging him and putting his head on Oz's shoulder.

Devon smiled, taking one last picture of them. "Dudes," he called,
intentionally breaking the mood. "Perfect." He hopped onto
the table, putting the camera down.

Xander looked over from his position on Oz's shoulder. "Go develop
them?"

Devon grinned. "Sure. You got an hour." He hopped
off, taking the camera and the other full rolls of film as he headed for
the door. "One hour," he reminded.

Oz waited until they were alone to plant a kiss on Xander's ear.
"You sure?" He got a nod. "Want to cuddle more?"

"Want to do more," Xander decided, standing on his own so he could drag
Oz into their bedroom. "Want you," he murmured, helping his friend
out of his spandex bodysuit. "Want in you."

Oz relaxed and shook his head. "Not done that part often."

"I'll be gentle," Xander promised, settling Oz onto the bed so he could
finish stripping him. "So very gentle for you." As soon as
Oz was naked, he stripped himself and latched onto his lover's mouth, laying
them both back on the bed. "So very strong," he said between kisses.
"Mine?" Oz nodded, surrendering gently. "Good," he purred,
sitting up so he could rub down Oz's chest. "So very pretty," he
murmured, "and strong, and gentle, and hot."

Oz bucked up as Xander's ass rubbed over his stomach and down onto his
thighs. "Now?" he suggested.

"Easy, pretty, it'll happen soon enough," Xander said with a smile.
He leaned down to drag his lips over the bared throat. Oz wiggled
as he blew against his chest so he glanced up. "Shh, Oz. It's
okay." He licked across Oz's collarbone, taking a sharp turn down
to the heaving pecs. He smiled as he nipped one taut nipple, chuckling
at the gasp. "Oz," he sang, moving lower. "Want you."

"Have me," Oz agreed, pushing up into the hands following the sinful
mouth. "Please have me."

"Oh, I will," Xander promised, giving him a sultry look. He reached
into the shelves beside his bed for his massage lotion, a gift from Oz
after they had gotten back from the tour. He put the bottle beside
Oz's hip, scooting backward until he was lying between the splayed legs.
He flipped open the cap, transferring some of the pale pink contents to
his right hand and starting to work it into the tight cavity while distracting
Oz with his tongue.

"Xander," Oz moaned, squeezing his eyes shut.

"In a few minutes, just a little while longer and I'll make it us."
Oz opened his eyes to look down at him. "Us," he repeated.
Oz nodded and put his head back down, relaxing into the gentle teasing.
Xander smiled, switching up to mouth the head of Oz's cock as he inserted
himself. As he got farther in, he straightened up and pulled Oz's
body into the position he wanted, his lover on his lap with Oz's legs wrapped
around his waist. "Perfect," he whispered into a pink ear.
"Us?"

"Us," Oz agreed, pulling back to kiss his friend, going with the first
gentle thrust. This position didn't let them get far apart but that
closeness was what they needed. He wrapped Xander tightly in his
arms, sharing another kiss with him as their gentle movements continued.

As they shot off with quiet groans, Xander pulled back to give Oz a
naughty grin. "Want to go lay on the balcony and go again?"

"Xander!"

Devon shook his head as he walked in, smirking at Oz's yell. "Bad
boy's back," he called, dropping the camera and pictures on the table as
he headed for the kitchen. He chuckled as he caught the naked-Xander-blur
out of the corner of his eye. "They're good." When he turned
around, he was alone in the big common space. "Welcome," he called
as he headed for what had been Oz's room.

"Thanks," Oz called. "Don't hurry so much."

"Next time," Devon promised as he closed the curtains.

Xander walked out to his easel and plopped down in front of it, attaching
the pictures to the easel with a clothespin. He picked up a brush,
starting on the one that had caught his eye.

Oz walked out a few minutes later, shaking his head at his roommate,
who was fully back into his art. He headed into their bedroom, lying
down to take a nap while Xander painted.

***

Oz looked at the new pictures, his mouth open. He looked at Xander,
and opened his arms, simply giving him a hug. "I like," he said finally.
"We can do it again."

Xander grinned, looking over at John, whom he had invited up. "Better?"

His advisor smiled. "I think this will be a great show."
He patted his student's shoulder. "Are you putting in any pictures?"
Xander shook his head. "Okay. Give me any notes by tomorrow."
Oz handed him a sheet of paper, making him smile more. "Thanks.
I'll make sure these are in the notes." He read over them quickly.
"Who's Devon?"

"Our other roomie, Oz and I modeled and he captured it."

John shook his head. "I'll make it a collaboration between the two of
you." He turned and walked toward the door. "Come proof the
flier and brochure tomorrow, Xander," he called as he left, "and check
your mail!"

"I hope he's not going to be mad," Xander said, looking toward Oz's
old room where the vampire was sleeping off the day.

"He'll be fine with it," Oz said, giving him a pat. "Check your
email, I'm going to start breakfast." He went into the kitchen.

Xander sat down in front of Oz's computer, logging on under his name.
He grunted as he saw the few messages waiting, hitting the one marked 'art
dept'. His groan brought Oz to his side. "I have a third show
to prepare for. The whole department is showing at once." Oz
started to rub his back. "At least they decided what I'm showing."

"We'll find them later. When do you have to present them?"

"This afternoon." Xander looked up. "Three of those are
ruined."

"They said you need three and the list has ten. You'll be okay."
He hugged Xander gently, letting go as the toaster popped. "Want
to eat?"

"In a sec, I want to finish this."

"Okay, we'll go over the offerings for next semester."

"John wants me in the digital class," Xander said absently, frowning
at the new letter he had opened. "My parents are looking for me."

Oz sat down at the table. "Why?"

"Someone died." Xander clicked a button and quickly typed a reply,
sending it off. "I sent the person my physical addy." He shut
down the computer and got up, walking over to join Oz. "I don't want
to go back."

"So we won't." Oz took a bite of toast. "Gotta pick classes."

"Yeah." Xander picked up the book of offered classes, flipping
to the art section. "Eww."

"That bad?"

"The three John wanted me in are all mornings." He traced the
listings with his finger. "Wood carving, sculpture, photo 2 and 4,
advanced figures, pastels, charcoal, senior seminar, calligraphy."
He dropped the book. "Not a thing."

"Wood carving and figures," Oz suggested.

"Same teacher as sculpture and she hates me."

"Got to take something," Oz reminded him. "Can you two make peace?"

"Not sure." Xander flipped to his program requirements, reading
them. "I still need a humanities class."

"I'm taking Anthro 101."

"No." Xander shook his head. "Blair warned me not to take
a class over there."

"Sandburg perks program?"

"Anti-perks."

"Could be a bad," Oz admitted as he pushed aside his dishes. "Eat."

"In a few," Xander said as he read through the offered classes again.

"Now!" Xander looked up in shock. "You're underweight, eat."
He watched his sentinel head into the kitchen to make himself breakfast.
"Thank you."

"Yup." Xander stared at the plate he had put in the microwave,
grabbing it before the timer could beep, eating the pork chop while he
cooked his real breakfast.

Oz picked up the schedule, looking for new things to take.

***

"Weaving?" John asked, frowning at his advisee. "What about my
suggestions?"

Xander gave him an embarrassed look. "I can take them if the teacher
never wants to see me."

John chuckled. "Not a morning person. Okay, so weaving?"

"It's on the alternate track and it's only half a semester."

"Ah." John nodded sagely before looking over the proposed schedule
again. "Computer requirement, literature requirement, art appreciation
and free form." He nodded. "Which one is the drop one?"

Xander shrugged. "Oz liked that lit and I know most of the computer
stuff." He shifted. "I think it'll be okay."

"Okay." John signed his name on the registration form. "What
about your stuff for the student show?"

"I handed Bertranda three and six alternatives from other people's walls."
John looked worried. "Blair and Giles both had lots of unseen stuff
so I offered it up to be shown."

"Cool. Did we proof the brochure?"

"And Dev went insane," he said with a grin. "He hugged everyone
he could find and told them all."

"Glad he was happy." John handed back the registration card.
"Xander, we need to make plans for your senior showing." That stopped
his student cold. "It's a requirement for graduation. We should
plan on doing it two semesters before you graduate in case there's a problem
and we have to push it back."

Xander shifted uncomfortably. "Do I have to?" John nodded.
"Okay, so I have two years?"

"You'll need to start planning now so you have unseen works. You'll
need at least fifty pieces so we can pick about twenty." Xander nodded
again, his movements slow and shallow. "You'll need to be able to
showcase a wide range of skills. Some pictures, some paintings that
are realistic and some of the more abstract and surreal."

Xander frowned. "Does any of my present stuff fit?"

"Some. I've seen Blair's and Jim's stuff and a few of them were
good enough." He leaned forward, leaning on his arms, which were
crossed on the desk. "We'll work on it, but plan on starting to pick
things now to hold back."

"Okay." He shrugged. "Oh, my extra picture for our show
isn't going into the unknowns show, Devon said no."

"Okay, you'll need to give them choices too."

"Five total."

"Hmm. Going to give them more?" John asked, relaxing again now
that he had talked his favorite student into doing the optional show.

"I was going to bring in my binder of pictures, which we updated with
where things are shown and how many people have seen them, to let them
decide."

"Good idea, just remember to take out the stuff you aren't willing to
part with." Xander nodded. "All done. Go run away now."

Xander hurried out of the office, running out to register for the next
semester before everything closed. He met Oz in the Student Union
after he was done, sliding into their booth. "I have to do a senior
show," he said quietly. Oz choked. "Not now, but I'll need
fifty to choose from that haven't been seen."

"No, but it's a good opportunity." He slumped in on himself.
"I don't want to do it, even if I could be a featured person this year."
He put his head down on the table, giving Oz a pathetic sideways look.
"Everyone wants but me."

"Then don't. We don't need the money." He patted Xander's
head. "Your truck's repair isn't that expensive; the estimate was
very low."

"Have we looked at the finances recently?" Oz nodded. "Are we
still okay really or practically?"

"Close to practically, but we're still okay. It's just under two
and a half months until next semester. We'll do okay." Oz looked
around. "Actually, I'd rather you didn't do the unknowns show; the
fee went up and there's no guarantee you'll sell."

"I feel bad," Xander said quietly. "It's like I broke his dreams
or something."

"Someone with your gifts is a boon to the department; it gives them
great publicity." Oz shrugged, stealing a bite of food to eat.
"You're drawing students to the program because they want to be you."

"I guess, but I still don't want to."

Oz nodded. "You going to do the portrait workshop over Christmas?"
he asked in a smooth change of subject. Xander shook his head.
"No?"

"No, but I am going to work."

"Okay." Oz pushed his plate closer to his roommate. "Eat."
He waited until Xander had loaded his mouth before adding anything else.
"Jim and Blair want us to come for dinner. They want to mend bridges."
Xander stopped chewing. "Eat. I miss talking with Blair."
Xander nodded. "Good, we'll go over around five. Dev can come
over later."

Xander shrugged and swallowed. "Okay. If you're okay with
it, I am." He pushed back the plate. "Thanks."

"Finish it, you need the food."

"I eat."

"Not unless you're reminded," Oz countered.

"I forget."

"That's not allowed. Not eating means hospitalization, which we
can't afford." Xander snorted. "Eat or I'm going to ask Blair
to cook for us."

Xander dropped the potato chips he had been fingering. "I'm sorry
I'm such a bother, Oz, but I can't help it."

"Not a bother, just an occasional irritation; especially when you wear
my shirts." He pinched the thin arm. "You look sick.
Eat."

"Okay. I don't feel like arguing." Xander finished off the
chips. "I got congratulated for snaring you." Oz started to
choke so he jumped up to pound on his back. "Oz! You okay?"
He handed off the glass of water someone handed him. "Thanks," he
said absently, helping Oz calm back down. "You okay?" he asked softly
as he sat back down.

Oz took a breath and wiped off his face. "Yeah, fine. Who?"
He put his head down so he could concentrate on breathing.

"One of the other art students, they remarked on it during our department
meeting." Oz groaned. "I told them you were a super roomie
and I needed you as a keeper and art critic." He gave his guide a
faint grin. "He wanted your number, he needs you too."

Oz shook his head. "I can't take more than you." He sat
up, glancing around. "Don't do that to me again, Xander, okay?"

"Okay." Xander grinned. "Sorry. You back to normal?"
Oz nodded. "Okay. We'll talk after we get back tonight?"

"Definitely." Oz grabbed a crumb of potato chip, leaving the rest
of the burger on the plate. "Eat, Xander."

***

Blair opened his apartment door, waving the young men inside.
"Come on. Xander, when did you stop eating? Oz, hey."
He hugged each of them before he let them inside to sit down. "Let
me start by apologizing; I'm an ass." Oz nodded, making him laugh.
"Okay, as long as we have consensus. Anyone want snacks?" The
door was knocked on again and he opened it for Devon, who gave him a hug
and a grin. "Thanks. Sit. Snacks?" he asked again.

"We're out of food," Devon explained. "They forgot to go shopping
for the past week."

"Ah," Jim said as he walked through the connecting door between his
and Blair's apartment. "You should fix that." He patted the
back of Xander's head. "Slow down or you'll get sick." He sat
down across from Oz. "How's things in your pairing?"

"Not great. Got stress from art stuff."

Xander looked up. "Not if I'm not in the unknowns show.
Otherwise I just have to show up and help arrange." He checked the
plate and handed the four pieces left to Oz. "Sorry."

"I'm sure John won't tell you to dump Oz," Jim said with a faint smile.
"If you have to, you can tell him what's going on."

"He's been told about Blair and he knows something but I'm not sure
what," Xander admitted.

Oz coughed. "We'll explain something to him." Xander smiled
at him. "It'll be okay, really." He looked over at Blair.
"Can we come be fed more often? This is way beyond my ability."

"Sure, I always make too much." Blair relaxed. "It'll be
okay."

***

John cleared his throat. "Maybe your friend should let us discuss
this alone." Oz shook his head. "All right, then let me ask
you directly. Are you trying to keep his gift covered?" Oz
shook his head again. "You're sure? You're not trying to kill
his spirit or skills or even just kill him?"

Xander glared at his advisor, reaching over to touch Oz. "Oz is
doing things to *help* me, not hurt me. He's never been anything
but supportive. This is all me, John. I feel worthless and
slacking." He leaned closer to Oz, silently protecting and giving
him strength. "This is me wondering if I'm going to starve when I
graduate. This way I can eat *and* paint. Maybe I'll even find
someone like me and make sure he or she gets help sooner."

John sighed, slumping in on himself. "Okay. You're just
changing minors?" Xander nodded. "I guess that's an acceptable
minor, and a reasonable excuse, but I have to feel disappointed.
Your gift will be wasted while you teach."

"I can still do art," Xander pointed out. "There's all summer
and after school. Art isn't a homework class so I'll have plenty
of free time to paint. And if you think about it, I'll be getting
paid for sitting and drawing with kids."

John snorted. "Okay, I'll sign the forms but I don't want to hear
any more about you withdrawing from art."

"Except the unknowns show," Xander corrected. "We can't afford
it if I don't sell so I'm not doing it." John glared at Oz.
"No, my decision. We can't afford it and eating if I don't sell."

John leaned back, nodding after a few seconds. "Okay," He said
slowly, "eating is good. You do know that we may sell at either of
the other shows?" Xander nodded. "Not counting on it?"

"I never count on it," Xander told him. Oz grunted in agreement.
"Actually, I'm really not counting on selling this semester; it's just
not been happening."

"Our emergency fund is almost gone," Oz added.

John shrugged. "We've all been there, guys. I know it's
tough but it'll happen."

"It's better to not count on money coming in when it's not," Xander
reminded him. "I haven't sold since I placed an emergency call so
we could buy our building."

"You could get a loan...." John started.

"Which would leave us in the same place next semester when we really
can't afford it," Oz pointed out.

"Touring again?"

"Yes, but you don't have to come," Oz told Xander, patting him on the
arm. "I won't force you to come with us this time."

"Okay," Xander said with a grin. "Good. I was miserable
a third of the time."

"Summer school," John said quickly. "We're offering six classes,
most later in the day."

Oz shrugged. "We'll look at the schedule when it comes out."
He shifted to look in Xander's direction. "Will you be okay?"

"Definitely. If we have to, you can get a cellphone and Blair'll
be here. Just don't go too far in country."

Oz nodded. "Minnesota. Dev wants to see his cousin this
time."

John sighed. "Do I want to know why this is such an issue?"

Xander stared at Oz, who nodded slightly, then turned to face his advisor.
"What do you know about Blair?"

"Blair's diss," Oz corrected gently.

"Um, not much. I remember the media crap. Are you...."
He stopped, sitting up abruptly. "You're what they were talking about?"
Xander nodded. "So, your roommate is..." Oz nodded. "Oh.
Oh, my." He slumped again. "Okay. Do we need to make
official notice, emergency plans, or something? Anything?"

"He's doing okay," Oz conceded. "He zones while doing his art
usually. That's an over-focus," he explained at the look of confusion.
"His main thing right now is his art zone; he forgets to eat."

"Often," Xander added with a small nod.

"Yes, I noticed," John said sarcastically, frowning at Xander.
"Everything else is okay?"

"It's an occasional thing," Xander admitted. "I usually correct
myself now. The last one here was during a figures class when I was
upset."

John thought for a few minutes, then his face firmed up into it's usual
happy expression. "Okay." John clapped his hands together.
"I didn't hear that unless I need to know in the future. I'll sign
the forms for Xander's minor change and talk to the education people for
him." He signed the form in front of him, handing it over as fast
as he could. "There we go."

Xander looked down at the form. "We weirded you out, huh?"

"We're all different," John said gently. "Some are just a little
more different than others."

Oz snorted. "And some are just strange." Xander grinned
at him. "We done?"

"Yup." John smiled at him. "Just let me know when something's
going to need to be done."

"In a sec." Oz waited until Xander had left them alone to say
anything else. "Xander is more than my guideling. I'm not going
to work against him, never." He drew out the last word as he stood
up. He walked out, joining Xander on the bench outside the building
under a group of trees. "He understands now."

Xander sighed. "That's what I figured." He stood up.
"Pizza?"

Oz nodded. "Sounds good. We okay?"

"Definitely. You were just being protective." Xander grinned.
"Come on, I'm hungry."

"Good. It's about time."

John put his head down on his desk, not even looking up when someone
walked in. "What?" he moaned.

"Did they tell you what he is?" Bertranda asked with a smirk.
John groaned but didn't lift his head. "Sandburg's had a few others
here so he could watch over them. We've been watching for it since
we saw who had him admitted."

John lifted his head. "He said he zoned in his figure drawing's
class."

"He did. The teacher went to check on him and found him staring
into space in the bathroom. That was right after the gallery sold
stuff without telling him and before his ulcer."

John shuddered. "He said he goes somewhere like that when he creates."

Bertranda's mouth fell open. "Really?" John nodded.
"I'll be damned! His mind just takes over for him? No wonder
he never works in class." John shook his head. "In classes
like figures he brings in mostly completed work and does a few finishing
touches."

"He paints naked," John said with a chuckle. "Can't you just see
someone like Doctor Morrows dealing with that quirk?"

"She called it a 'confused muse' problem," Bertranda said in imitation
of the figures' teacher. "She accepted it but she hates him."

John shook his head, still laughing. "Oh, God, we're going to
have problems keeping him safe." He tossed his head back down, hitting
it on the desk.

***

Xander stuffed the last piece of Oz's crust into his mouth, giving his
guide a small smile. "Thanks."

Oz stopped and thought, then nodded. "I do need to move my stuff.
Dev will hate us, he'll have to get a new dresser." Xander's smile
got brighter and larger. "We'll do that tonight, after you clean
your room." He wiped his mouth. "You have class in twenty minutes.
I'll see you at home." He gathered up their trash, putting it onto
the tray and carrying it to the trash can.

Xander grabbed his backpack as he slid out of the booth. "I'll
be home around four." He jogged out of the restaurant.

Oz checked the table as he gathered his things, then he left for home.